MARDAN, Jan 30: Former federal minister and leader of Awami National Party Mohammad Azam Khan Hoti has directed Frontier Highway Authority to accelerate work on the mega projects of Eastern and Western bypasses in Mardan. He stated this while presiding over a meeting to review the work on the said projects which was also attended by the FHA director Javed Ihsan, Commissioner Mardan division Mohammad Akbar Khan, DCO Mohammad Adil Khan, DPO Wakif Khan and other officials.

The FHA officials told participants that more than fifty percent work had been completed on the Eastern Bypass which would be constructed at a cost of Rs800 million while nearly 20 percent work had been completed on the Western bypass which will cost Rs600 million.

The ex-federal minister Azam Hoti directed the FHA officials to ensure completion of both the projects within given dateline of 2012.

He hoped these projects would not only lessen the traffic burden on the inter-city roads but would also facilitate the residents of Swabi, Charsadda, Buner and Malakand Division.

BAR POLLS: The Democratic Alliance panel secured the top slots of president and vice-president in the Mardan bar association election held the other day.

Abdur Rasheed Pirzada and Akbar Hoti from the Democratic Alliance panel were elected president and vice-president grabbing 189 and 218 votes, respectively, defeating opponents Khan Ghawas Khan and Ameer Hussain of PPP-ANP panel who bagged 164 and 134 votes, respectively.

However, the PPP-ANP backed Shakeel Zada and Nisar Ahmad were elected general secretary and finance secretary by securing 218 and 179 votes, respectively while their rivals received 133 and 170 votes, respectively. Javed Shah from the Democratic Alliance was elected as joint secretary getting 175 votes.